How can Jesus be God if he prayed?

Many who stand within the opposing side like to bring up the fact that Jesus was seen as PRAYING to God. This saying is mostly brought forth by those within the Islamic community in an attempt to disprove the divinity of the Messiah.

Within this post, I will demonstrate that Jesus praying to the father does not necessarily disprove his divinity at all. Furthermore, there is biblical evidence to believe that Jesus praying to the father is not really that similar to the HUMAN and GOD interaction that happens between us and the Almighty during our supplication.

The answer to the above argument is going to be divided into 2 parts which are all going to be situated within this post. Of course, the straightforward answer to this question is that Jesus was also fully human hence him praying to his father would make complete sense. However, there exists other ways in which we can look at such actions performed by the Christ. What we are going to learn are the following things:

-How the definition/meaning of the word PRAY is not limited within the realm of creation and creator interaction.

-How Jesus would sometimes do things which we wouldn’t even dream of God doing as an example to push humanity towards mirroring his actions and words.

Part 1

Within this part, I am going to demonstrate that the term PRAYER/PRAY when applied to Jesus is not limited to its common definition. We are going to prove this using the Logic brought forth by the late Muslim debater Ahmed Deedat.

In a lecture he performed in South Africa, Ahmed Deedat was told that the disciples WORSHIPED Jesus. As a response, he said the following: “If you open a new bible you will find a different word for worship, if you open the RSV you will find a different word for worship. WHAT ARE THE SYNONYMS USED FOR WORSHIP? You see, this word worship, if you ask the roman catholic, you ask them how many types of worships are there? In response, they will tell you there are 3 different types of worship.”

If you are interested in seeing this video, go to the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdYMrRwLluw

What we see Ahmed Deedat doing is attempting to prove 

that Jesus was NOT WORSHIPED as God because the word worship has different meanings. Due to his belief that Jesus was a man, he is using the definition/synonym which can be applied to a human. If Deedat is allowed to do this, then the Christians should also be allowed to explore the different meanings/synonyms of the word PRAY both within and without of the biblical narrative and use the definition which can be applied to a DIVINE Christ.

When we look at the Gospels, we see that the word PRAY is used many times. However, it is also used by MAN when his speech is directed to ANOTHER MAN. In other words, we see a completely different definition of the verb PRAY than we are used to seeing:

Luke 14:17-18

And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

(the servant and the invited individual are both human)

Mark 5:23

And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

What we see from the above passages is that the word pray is not talking about the GOD MAN INTERACTION, but the one used in every day language with everyday people towards those who are of the same nature (Luke 14:17-18).

When we look at the MERRIAM-WEBSTER'S dictionary, we see that there are more definitions to the word pray than we are aware of:

-to speak to God especially in order to give thanks or to ask for something

-to hope or wish very much for something to happen

-to seriously ask (someone) to do something

What we see in the above definitions is that the verb PRAY is not limited to our common meaning of the word. Only one of them refers to an interaction between 2 beings of different natures ( the first one). Because Jesus constantly claims to be God, and because the gospels also bring forth indications that the word PRAY can also mean an interaction between 2 individuals of the SAME NATURE, in other words, just meaning to ask someone for something, we can therefore conclude that the word PRAY when applied to Christ is not limited to its common definition, just like Deedat does not limit the word WORSHIP to its common definition when applied to Jesus.

Now granted that the Greek words differ in the original language in which the New testament was written. Whenever Jesus is seen as praying to God, the Greek word is προσεύξασθαι whereas when it is used within the above verses, the word is usually ἐρωτῶ. Many may view this as evidence that what I am saying is false. But remember, we are speaking about SYNONYMS. If Ahmed Deedat has the right to do such a thing with the word WORSHIP, despite the fact that it is the SAME GREEK WORD when it applies to both Jesus and God, then Christians should be granted the same right. Let us see some synonyms or other definitions for the GREEK word προσεύξασθαι (pray).

According to WORD REFERENCE.COM, we see that a synonym for the Greek word προσεύξασθαι is παρακαλάω. This word means:

-Plead with or beg

-Ask humbly

-Implore

Also, according to the website, προσεύξασθαι can also mean to DESIRE STRONGLY or TO WISH.

So, what we see is that both the English and the Greek words for the verb pray ARE NOT ALWAYS LIMITED to the common definition we provide to them. It can also be a word which is used between 2 people OF THE SAME NATURE and does not always have to refer to a GOD MAN interaction (only ONE of the definitions mentions calling upon God). What this means is that when Jesus prayed, it did not necessarily demonstrate a communication between a being of a higher essence with a being of a lower essence, but of the same nature. When we come into view of this fact, then Jesus praying to God does not automatically disprove his divinity according to the definitions of the word and according to MUSLIM LOGIC displayed by the late Ahmed Deedat.

Part 2

As I stated in my previous post:

“One of the intentions of Christ was to serve as an example for the people to follow. Hence, when we read the gospels, we constantly run into actions which Christ performs which we wouldn’t expect God to do, but he STILL did them AS AN EXAMPLE FOR US TO FOLLOW.

John,13th chapter verses 12-14:

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

We also see such an example within the baptism of Christ. Please refer to my post: http://beyondcontroversy.blogspot.ca/2016/06/if-jesus-was-god-why-did-he-get-baptized.html”

Now granted, there are times where Jesus Isolated himself and prayed alone:

Mark 6:46

And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

Luke 6:12

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God

So the question arises, How can Jesus serve as an example when he prays ALONE seeing as no one is there to see him? The answer lies within the gospel of Mark and Matthew:

Mark 13:14

But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

Matthew 25:15

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

What we see within the above passages is that the content of the gospels ARE ALSO DIRECTED TOWARDS THE READER. In other words, they were also written with the READER IN MIND. So just because Christ cannot serve as an example to the people within his time when he prays alone, this doesn’t mean that he cannot serve as an example to the READER when he does so. Jesus in his infinite knowledge and wisdom knew exactly who and what would be written in his word seeing as he is the inspirer. Hence, It does not lie beyond the bounds of possibility that Jesus performed certain things within his life time as a means to serve as an example to his contemporaries AND TO THE EVENTUAL READERS OF HIS STORY. So, what Jesus was trying to communicate by praying is the following:

IF ALMIGHTY GOD IS WILLING TO HUMBLE HIMSELF IN PRAYER, THEN ALL THE MORE SHOULD WE.

Jesus praying to God served more as an example for humanity to mirror and follow rather than his need for supplication.

To conclude this post, I will leave you with a question: Why would Jesus pray to God in the sense that he was ONLY a human being and a prophet when he is the very one who has the ability to ANSWER PRAYERS?

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And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13

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